Fifa Rolls Back Water Bottle Ban for 2026 World Cup
Fifa has rolled back part of its controversial water bottle ban for the 2026 World Cup, after a backlash from supporters, scientists and even the British prime minister.
In a fresh update, the governing body confirmed that fans will now be allowed to take one soft, plastic, factory-sealed disposable water bottle of 20 ounces (590ml) into any World Cup match in the USA and Canada.
It marks a notable shift in tone from earlier in the week, when Fifa scrapped its original plan to let ticket holders bring in empty, transparent, reusable bottles of up to one litre. That change – removing the right to carry reusable containers entirely – triggered immediate anger from fan groups already worried about the effects of extreme heat on spectators at a summer tournament spread across North America.
The criticism quickly moved beyond supporter circles. Scientists warned about heat stress and hydration. Keir Starmer went further. The British prime minister called the policy “wrong” and suggested it was “about making money”, questioning how fans could be barred from bringing bottles in, yet expected to pay stadium prices once inside.
Fifa has now edged away from the most hardline version of its stance. In a statement outlining the revised rules, World Cup 2026 chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi underlined that the organisation still sees a security issue in sturdier containers.
“What is not allowed are hard-sided resealable water containers, which could pose a safety and security risk,” Schirgi said.
The debate has been sharpened by recent experience in the United States. At last summer’s Club World Cup, supporters were allowed to bring empty bottles into venues before refilling them. Water was widely available in those stadiums, typically priced between £3 (€3.47) and £4.50 – not cheap, but at least with the option of carrying a personal bottle.
This time, Fifa initially framed its stricter approach as a safety measure designed “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees”. Starmer, speaking to LBC on Friday, openly challenged that logic, linking the bottle ban to already soaring costs for fans.
He highlighted the contradiction: no plastic bottles allowed through the turnstiles, yet bottled water on sale once you are in your seat – at a premium. He also attacked the price of tickets themselves, calling them “far too expensive” and arguing that the combination of high entry fees and restrictive in-stadium policies was simply “the wrong policy”.
Fifa’s partial retreat gives supporters a small win and at least one guaranteed drink. The bigger question now is whether, under the glare of a World Cup staged in some of the hottest conditions the tournament has ever seen, that will be enough.
